GOVERNMENT MUST RELEASE DOCUMENTS DETAILING IMPACT OF VSU LEGISLATION
October 10 2005
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) on Monday condemned the Federal Government’s refusal to publicly release the details of alternative policy options being considered to its current voluntary student unionism legislation.
This is despite the Department of Education Science and Training’s own findings that if the legislation is passed is in its current form, many students from disadvantaged backgrounds will not be able to continue their studies.
“The refusal to publicly release these documents and details of alternative policy options is another example of the Government’s refusal to use its Senate majority responsibly,” said Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator.
“Despite the concerns expressed by virtually the entire higher education sector, the opposition parties and even members of the Coalition, it appears that the Government is going to turn its back on those students most disadvantaged in order to pursue an ideological agenda based on old political rivalries.”
The findings were revealed today in documents obtained by the Australian newspaper under Freedom of Information laws, which also detail the Government’s ideological motivation in introducing the legislation.
“The rising cost of university education, both in terms of increased fees and rising ancillary and living costs, is already a significant and growing burden on students and their families, particularly to those students who have traditionally been excluded from entry,” said Nette.
“Student organisations provide a range of services such as childcare, personal, housing and financial counselling and assistance, careers and employment guidance as well as academic advocacy and advice, which are essential to the capacity of many students to continue their studies or to attend university in the first place.”
“It is these services that help facilitate students’ capacity to attend university, and the skilled student organisation staff that administer them, that are the least likely to survive under the user pays system that will ensue if this legislation passes.”
“The capacity of Australian students to attend university should be based on merit rather than their financial capacity.”
“The proposed legislation is also likely to result in the loss of over 4000 jobs Australia wide, and threatens to undermine Australia’s ability to compete in the multi-billion dollar international student market, where access to services provided by institutions is a major selling point for Australian universities”.
“In the interests of having an informed debate about the merits of the proposed voluntary student unionism legislation, NTEU calls on the Government to publicly release its findings on the likely impact of its legislation.”
Information and Comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0438 026277
Emma Cull, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0417 660 112